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Chapter 10 – Preparing for Battle
Jesipam felt the muscles in her arms and shoulders burn from exertion. A jolt of impact ran up her arm. She opened her eyes to see that the sword she held sliced the form in front of her - opening a great gash in heavy leather armor.
"There you go! You ripped the stuffing right out of him!" Jesipam saw Jelme's thick hand reach into the gash and pull out a handful of straw. “Now, if you can do that with your eyes closed, just think what you will be able to do when you learn to keep your eyes open!” He patted the practice dummy back into shape.
Jesipam grinned at Jelme - grateful for the company of someone who wasn't afraid to tease her.
She looked around at the old granary they used as a combination hideout, fort, and armory. The scent of hay and grain dust now mixed with the smell of sweat and unwashed bodies. People jabbed and parried across the open area of floor stepping in and out of the pools of sunlight thrown down from the high windows, their breath sending little clouds into the cool air of late fall.
They engaged in mock battle to prepare themselves for the real battle that might start anytime now. Jesipam knew that these "soldiers" were usually farmers, shopkeepers, clerks, bureaucrats, servants... only a few were trained soldiers – though Tapre promised castle soldiers would join them inside once the battle started. An emotion crept up from the deep inside her. It felt like the leading edge of panic. She pushed the feeling back down out of the way.
Her hand strayed to the crystal topped spiral pin on her vest collar. She fondled it nervously. All who joined the "liberators" were supposed to wear a copy of this pin. Once the battle started the pins were intended to help identify them in the fray. It's a nice idea... but as she looked around, she noticed that even in this liberator stronghold – not everyone wore the pin. She doubted if the struggling rebel leaders spent much of their resources purchasing and distributing these pins when they needed to procure food, supplies, weapons...
"It's my turn now!" A'Brenne called. He ran up to Jesipam and grabbed at the sword in her hand.
Ferayin stood up from the bench where she'd been sitting watching the lesson. "A'Brenne! Where are your manners? You don't just run up to a Lady and grab the sword out of her hand!"
Jelme laughed and clapped the boy on his shoulder. “At least not when she's fighting on your side!”
A'Brenne looked down and pouted. “I'm sorry!”
“Just don't do that to me in battle!” Jesipam laughed.
“He's not going to go to battle!” Ferayin protested.
Jelme shook his head. “No, he won't go to battle, but battle may well come to him – come to all of us. It's best to be prepared!”
That feeling Jesipam had been pushing down in weeks since she’d accepted leadership of the rebellion, forced its way into her consciousness. The power of emotion made her feel dizzy. She grabbed the mock-soldier she'd just sliced and eased herself to the ground. She pulled her knees up close to her chest and hid her face behind them.
Her mind filled with memories of waking Ferayin and A’Brenne in the middle of the night - yet again – to bring them with her to this place – a place with no beds, no baths, little privacy and little food – a place where people did nothing but prepare for, train for, and talk of war. Ferayin didn’t complain, but Jesipam knew her maid was miserable. As much as Jesipam would liked to have consoled Ferayin with promises of better times ahead, all Jesipam saw when she looked ahead into her dream-answer-place was violence and more violence.
"What's wrong girl!" Jelme asked.
Jesipam looked up at him. "Oh! How did I get us into this? He's just a child! There are other children here too. What is going to happen to them – to all of us?"
Jelme sighed and bent down to her. “You are doing what you have to do! Beslre has been asking for this for years! You can't kill and torture as many the people as he has and not expect that eventually someone will stand up and stop you. You are doing a good thing here, my little Mosquito. That's why I came to help you – to make sure you sting him hard!”
“But it's not just him I will be stinging! Did you read that ultimatum Tapre sent to Beslre? If Beslre doesn't surrender, we are going to attack the castle! He says we will kill anyone who stands in our way. That castle is home to hundreds of people who may 'stand in our way' because we probably look like invaders attacking their home! The villagers may feel the same way...”
Jelme put a hand on her shoulder. “I've seen the battle plans – we're not going anywhere near the village.”
“How can we 'not go anywhere near the village'? The village is right by the main gate!”
Jelme shook his head. “Do you think we are going to charge across bare fields with no cover? The castle archers would pick us off like they were spearing fish in a trap. No! People here built many secret paths in Stillen times. We'll enter by one of those – avoid the village altogether - and meet with our allies already inside the castle. It's a sound plan! There will be bloodshed – I won't tell you there won't be – but it should be a swift decisive battle. That will keep the casualties down. Given all the people Beslre has had killed and would probably kill in the future, I think this battle will save more lives than it claims. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be here now.”
Jesipam nodded. His words soothed her. They made sense. She looked up at his broad, wrinkled face with its thinning halo of silvered curls. She found it easy to be comforted by him. She reflected that if she could choose a father, he would be the father she'd choose. She didn't want to let him down – nor did she want to disappoint Blonre, or A'Teslem, or Gemel, or Darselam, or A'Brenne... but dark dreams troubled her sleep and disturbing visions haunted her waking hours.
Jesipam drew in a deep breath, uncurled her body and forced herself to stand. “I'm tired. I think I just need some fresh air.”
Jelme nodded. “You've been working hard. It would be good to rest. Who knows when you'll need your strength?”
Jesipam managed a smile and started walking toward the door.
A'Brenne jumped after her and caught her hand. “I get the sword now?”
Jesipam looked down at where his hand met hers. Signs! I still have this sword in my hand!
She looked into A'Brenne's face, feeling foolish. “I'm sorry! Of course you get the sword now.” She handed the sword to him.
A'Brenne smiled and hoisted its weight with unsteady arms. An expression of mischief crossed his face. “If you are finished practicing with the sword, isn't it time for you to throw your knife again?”
Jesipam shook her head. “I'm tired.”
”Come girl, the boy's right. You haven't practiced with the knife today. It would be a good idea,” Jelme suggested.
The image of a knife soaring through the air leapt to her mind. She cut off the vision – not wanting to see how the blade landed. Jesipam shivered. “Maybe later.”
”Just once then. I know you're tired, but just imagine the target is Beslre.” Jelme urged.
Jesipam found herself envisioning image of Beslre sitting on his throne, wearing a face like Rogna's but sharper featured, and without Rogna's warmth. Tendrils of connection reached out from him in all directions, sucking the life from those around him – especially her mother... She turned, faced the straw filled mock soldier, pulled her felrel knife from its scabbard on her belt, drew her arm back and readied herself for the throw, but her anger dissipated as quickly as it rose.
She looked around and saw many eyes fixed on her. Unwilling to show a failure of nerve in front of so many people, she cast around inside herself for a living vein of anger. She found one, tensed her muscles, she imagined a line of power running from her hand to her target, and threw her knife. It cut deep into the straw man's neck right above the armor. She steeled herself against any visions or emotions, walked over to the mock soldier, retrieved her knife and headed for the door.
“Got him in the jugular!” Jelme called out admiringly.
Jesipam waved off the complement and continued toward the door. She heard whispers as she passed the training fighters. “She wields a sword like a drunken hag, but those throws are amazing!” “Who taught her to throw like that?” “I hear she'd been studying with the old man for years.” “Do you think he could teach me to do that?”... She let their comments disappear form her memory like the vapor of their breath.
Jesipam walked out into the sunlight and leaned her back against the warehouse wall. The sun felt warm on her face, but the air bit cold through her cheeks. She noticed that frost still covered the ground under the shade of the trees. Those unrelenting spots of cold seemed to resonate with her state of mind - chilled despite the warmth of those around her.
The image that clung in her mind now was the image that gave power to her throw just now. The image she saw as she flung her knife was not the image of Beslre, but the face of Tapre. He would feel this – Jesipam knew it. He often seemed to read her mind and anticipate her actions. She could feel his presence. Sometimes she heard his thoughts in her mind, telling her what he wanted her to say or do. Sometimes she seemed to overhear him as he bowed and fawned on his fellow liberators while secretly holding them in distain. He wanted something badly, she could feel it!
When she told Blonre about this, he just shrugged and said that everyone who joined a cause wanted something badly. When she gathered herself in deep focus and searched the hearts of her liberator cohorts she found this to be true enough, but there was a difference between Tapre's desire and the desires of most of the others around her.
The others wanted specific things – things they felt would make their lives better. In Tapre, unsatisfied desire seemed to yawn like a gaping hole at the core of his being. It was similar to what she sometimes sensed in Keetse, but in Keetse the hole seemed to close when he engaged in a work that he believed in, or when he felt valued and safe. Jesipam had never been around Tapre when she didn't sense that cavern open inside him. Tapre didn't seem to hate her the way Beslre did, but Jesipam sometimes felt she'd be sucked up into that hole in Tapre's heart and never find her way out again. As much as she hated to admit it, she feared Tapre more deeply than she feared Beslre.
She looked over to the Stillen tower that stood hardly a stone's throw from the warehouse door. She felt an urge to sneak up to the tower and try to warn her mother – to warn anyone who'd listen - that she sensed something terrible was about to happen.
Reason kept her from doing so. Not only would such an action undermine their plans and put herself and her cohorts at risk, but she didn't know how to harness the power of the tirs. Her mother made several attempts to show Jesipam how to use them, but Jesipam always shied away – frightened by stories of Stillens enslaving Tlar through the use of the towers; frightened by Rogna's warning; and by her mother's own dissipated appearance.
Trying to learn to harness the power of the towers on her own seemed a dangerous business. Furthermore, she'd witnessed Tapre entering and leaving this tir several times. The thought of being trapped inside a tir with Tapre filled Jesipam with terror. Still, the urge to use the tower remained.
She started singing softly to herself to calm her nerves:
In Melta’s house there lived a bear,
A bear and monkey too.
Monkey said, “Bear, if you dare, I have a plan for you.’
The treasure Melta prizes most stands in that tower there.
If you break the door, I’ll enter in,
The treasure we can share, Oh! The treasure we can share...”
As she stood staring at the tir, sorting through her warring impulses, Tapre emerged from the tower door. He stood, one step out of the tower, staring at her as though he could read the thoughts racing through her mind and contemplated what to do about it. After what seemed like an eternal moment, he strode toward her. His eyes met hers with a stony glare. He barely slowed his pace as he passed her on his way into the warehouse. “Their coming,” were his only words to her.
Jesipam heard Tapre's voice echo in the warehouse behind her. “Attention! Attention!”
Other voices added to the call. “Attention!” “Attention!”
Jesipam pulled together her courage. She crept back into the warehouse to watch the proceedings. She positioned herself a few paces behind Tapre so she could hear and see everything. When the room fell quiet and all eyes focused on Tapre, he spoke again. “Beslre has sent a full complement of troops to meet us. Most look as though they are from the castle, but they include some soldiers wearing the emblems of Watertown.”
Jelme nodded with approval. “It's going according to plan then!”
“So far…” Tapre concurred, “but the fight hasn't yet begun. The troops are marching in two columns. Right now they are both on the South side of the hill here. I suspect they plan to send each column around opposite sides of the hill, in an attempt to surround us. We need to move fast. Evacuate everyone but the handful of fighters needed to make this place look like a lively target. Temre, you are in charge of the fighters here.” Temre, a one-armed former soldier, acknowledged the assignment with a solemn nod.
Tapre pulled out a map and turned to a tall heavy set man. “Setme, I want your troops to travel the tunnels down to this ravine here. Spread out along the west side of the hill – and Ferse...” he motioned to a shaggy looking man with a broken nose, “Lead your troops through the tunnels here to the forest on the east side. As Beslre's army moves to surround and close in on our warehouse here, I want the two of you to close in on them! With any luck, we can destroy the bigger part of the loyalist army in one stroke!”
“Where are you going to be in all this?” Temre asked.
“I'm leading my contingent through the south tunnels to the castle where we'll engage the remaining loyalist troops, and meet up with our counterparts in the castle.” Setme and Ferse nodded with approval. “Get started!”
The leaders separated to gather their troops. Tapre looked around and then signaled to A'Brenne and one of his friends who stood in a corner idly kicking a ball back and forth between them. Tapre first addressed A'Brenne's friend. “Do you know who Farre is?”
The boy nodded.
“I want you to go to him and tell him to bring me the lists. He'll know what I mean.”
The boy nodded. “Alright.” He darted off through the hurrying crowds and disappeared into the back of the warehouse.
Tapre turned to A'Brenne. “You know who Blonre is, don't you?”
A'Brenne nodded.
“He's been playing look-out in the west tunnels. Go find him now and bring him back to me!”
A'Brenne grinned, obviously happy to be selected for a special role. “Right away!” He bounded out the door like a hound after a rabbit.
Tapre turned and looked at Jesipam and beckoned her with a wave of his hand. Jesipam drew in a breath and walked over to him. “I know you have only been here a few days and probably don't feel you know much about what is going on. While you were still living in the castle we considered it best to keep most of the details of our plans from you – for your own safety. You know your mother and Beslre have been very curious about your doings. If they had discovered our plans before everything was in place...” Tapre extended his hands to the warehouse around.
Jesipam understood. She looked around at all the people hurrying to gather together weapons, armor, knapsacks of provisions. If any of their plans became known to Beslre's people before everything was ready, Beslre's soldiers would have hunted down and slaughtered most of these people she saw before her.
“I'm afraid that secrecy is still necessary. However, there are a few things you need to know. As I'm sure you heard, we are going to try to take Blue House Castle.”
Jesipam nodded.
“Your place in all this is to make your way back to the castle via the west tunnels. You will meet with Setme's troops, but I want you to continue on to the castle. I'll meet you there, and together we'll secure our claim to Blue House. I'm sending Blonre with you. He knows the way to the castle, and the rendezvous point. The journey shouldn't take more than a half day. I suggest you travel light. Bring only a small knapsack with a little food and water, and of course, your felrel knife."
Jesipam rolled her eyes. The comments about her knife throwing these past couple of days wearied her.
Tapre lifted an eyebrow. “Don't take your safety for granted! Even if we are able to disarm the castle guard before you arrive, most of Upper Courtowns felrel knives. They received the much same training you did. You can expect them to wear them and use them! You need to be prepared to use yours!”
Jesipam suppressed the urge to protest: She didn’t want to kill anyone - she didn’t want to be part of this scheme. Instead, she held her head up. “Is there anything else?”
“I expect Blonre back here any moment. Be ready to go when he arrives!” Tapre's manner struck her as imperious.
“I'll be ready,” she said looking him in the eye.
Her look seemed to remind him of his official place. He glanced to the right and left. Then, apparently noticing people watching, he bowed to Jesipam. “I am ever your servant, My Lady!”
Jesipam made a show of smiling and returning his bow. You lizard! What happens when no one is watching you? She watched as he turned to consult with Farre, who arrived with a hand full of scrolls. She decided to get ready to go. She ran back to the area behind some large silos that served as a women's dressing area – taking advantage of the hubbub to act a little less dignified. She judged the tunic, vest, and trousers she wore to be practical clothes for the journey, but switched her light shoes for heavier boots, threw on a jacket against the chill of the sunless tunnels, and stuffed a small knapsack with bread, nuts and a small skin of water. She walked back to the main area of the warehouse.
She came back in time to watch the last of Setme's troops jog out the door. Ferse inspected the troops lined before him, making comments here and there. Then he clapped his hands and his troops followed Setme's. With most of the troops gone and Tapre's troops lined by the door, the room looked very empty. Jesipam looked around. She counted only about 35 people left - almost half of them children and non-combatants like Ferayin and A’Brenne.
She strode over to Tapre. “Where will the non-combatants be going?”
Tapre bowed. “My Lady, they will stay here. The area is better fortified and more defensible than any of the tunnels. In addition, their presence here will make the impression of continued occupation more convincing.”
Jesipam glared at him. She bowed to Tapre, more to remind herself to watch her tongue than to appease him. “May I suggest that it might be better to let them move to a more defensible position outside the area we expect Beslre's troops to attack?”
Tapre bowed again. “My Lady, I assure you, we have no intention of letting Beslre's troops come close enough to harm the people here – but our plan hinges on the element of surprise. Everything must look natural. They know we have children and other non-combatants with us. If they see and hear them, they will be less suspicious. This helps us to safeguard our non-combatants better than moving them!”
Jesipam could think of no reply. You don't even care if they are killed! She looked at the scrolls Tapre held. Lists of names. Some of the names jumped out at her: her cousins, Solomem and Botsa; Solomem's beloved, Tesse; the captain of the Blue House guard, Tseme; her aunt's husband, Dalne; Jesipam's former baba and her husband, Emmillan and Memre; the head cook in the common kitchen, Relamen...
“What are these names?” Jesipam demanded.
“These are names of people who have been witnessed making strong statements against us after hearing of our ultimatum to Beslre.”
A chill ran down her spine. “What are you planning to do with those names?”
Tapre smoothed out his manner in a way that made Jesipam feel like cringing. “We are going into an area where we expect resistance. It is helpful to know ahead of time which people we know we can trust, and which ones we know we can't trust. This is a simple matter – no more than a sensible precaution. Surely you would not have us do otherwise!"”
Again Jesipam could come up with no answer. Tapre's explanation sounded so clear and rational – but she knew that something less rational and more vicious lay beneath. She saw it as a simmering red light around him. She remembered what the older dancers had said about Tapre the day she first arrived back at Blue House: that he would kill anyone in line to the Blue House throne, and anyone he thought might oppose him – even a child like Botsa.
Jesipam caught sight of Blonre bounding into the doorway. He waved his arm. “Come on Mosquito! We've got to go! They are moving in fast! Bonne spotted their scouts just past the old mill!”
Jesipam made a perfunctory bow to Tapre, and then ran for the door.
She felt Tapre's stare on her back. She paused and turned. She felt Tapre's thoughts. “You run for that ill begotten whelp, but you can barely force yourself to give a polite bow in my direction!” Jesipam shuddered and turned back to face Blonre, and started running all the faster.
Blonre put a hand on her shoulder to guide her out as she reached him at the door, but glanced back at Tapre. He pointed to their left. “Into these woods here. Stay close behind me. It gets thick in places. We didn't want to make any traceable trail to alert Beslre's people.”
Blonre jogged a couple paces ahead of her. When they'd entered the cover of the woods, Blonre looked back at her. "What was that about?"
"What was what about?" Jesipam stepped into the thick under brush after Blonre – trying to keep up with his longer strides.
Blonre slowed his pace a little. “Something went on between you and Tapre – what was it?”
“He's keeping children and non-fighters at the warehouse while Beslre's soldiers close in.”
“We're not going to let Beslre's people reach them.”
“That's what he said.”
“You don't sound convinced.”
“I believe that is the plan.”
“But...”
“But I know enough history to know that plans don't always work out. I mean, think about it...our plan hinges on Beslre's plan not working!”
“Our plan is better.”
Jesipam sighed. “He also has these lists of people who someone says have spoken against us. We don't know why they spoke against us. Maybe they felt they had to, so Beslre wouldn't think they were part of the rebellion and have them killed! It's possible that whoever made up these lists lied too!”
“Why would anyone do something like that?”
“To get rid of someone they didn't like – or to get rid of someone who they think might be a rival for a position they want...”
Blonre held a branch out of the way for Jesipam. “I'm beginning to think Tsemilan was right when she said that you are paranoid!”
“Well what do you think is going to happen to the people on those lists if we take over the castle?”
“When we take over the castle!”
“Alright – when we take over the castle, what do you think will happen to them?”
“I don't know... maybe there will be some kind of trial... What do you think is going to happen with them?”
“I'm afraid they will all be killed – that's a lot simpler and quicker than holding trials! Everything Tapre does seems aimed at being quick, simple and careless of people's lives!”
“Sounds like you are talking about Beslre. Those are his tactics.”
“That's part of what worries me – are we getting a lot of people killed only to switch one tyrant for another?”
Blonre shook his head. “I know it looks as though Tapre has a lot of power now because he is our highest ranking military officer. He is the one who has been planning the battles, but he won't have that much power when the battles are over. Remember, you are the one who will be ruling, and you will have many people advising you – not just Tapre! If you don't like something he recommends, just ignore it! Seek someone else's council.”
Blonre smiled back at her. He seemed so confident that what he said was true – even in subtle focus, he glowed with the bright white light of unconflicted assurance. However, when Jesipam reached out with her mind to try to sense the outcome of this venture, the images that came to her mind were dark and violent. These images could just be my imagination. Perhaps they are just an expression of my cowardliness. Maybe I'm too much like my mother – afraid to take the risks needed to change things for the better! The last thing I want to do is end up like my mother: always afraid and hiding!
She looked at Blonre blazing the way ahead of her, his dark curls and strong well-proportioned back all surrounded by a brilliant pure light. She thought of him and all the other good people ready to give their lives to get rid of a tyrant and unite her people. It made her fears seem ridiculous. She vowed to ignore her dark forebodings and concentrate on helping these people achieve their vision.
“This is it!” Blonre pulled shrub branches up to uncover a flat stone which he shoved to one side revealing a man-sized hole in the ground. When Jesipam looked into it, she could see the faint green light of glow grass lamps. “Go ahead!” Blonre invited.
Jesipam sat on the ground and eased herself into the hole. She dropped only a short way to the tunnel floor, landing on her feet. She moved away from the opening to let Blonre follow. The tunnel smelled of dirt and rot. She touched one of the great timbers bracing the tunnel sides. Its surface felt slightly spongy. I suppose these tunnels have been here since Stillen times. I hope they continue to hold up until we all get through to the castle! She could imagine the rotting timbers breaking, and the tunnel ceiling collapsing on top of them as Beslre's troops marched over head. She shook her head to clear her mind of any such images. Keep positive – concentrate on winning our objective!
Blonre dropped into the tunnel behind her. He grabbed the glow grass lamp from one of the shelves chiseled into the tunnel wall. “On we go!” He pointed ahead into the darkness and started walking.
Jesipam followed. “Tapre said we would meet up with him in the castle, but he didn't say where we'd meet him.”
“The rendezvous point is the room directly under the Stillen spiral.”
Jesipam felt another surge of foreboding, but shoved it to the back of her mind. “An interesting place to meet!”
“I suppose it is a symbol – seat of power from old times and all...”
She tried to distract herself by looking at the walls, the ceiling, the floor... she noticed the pattern of footprints in the dirt on the tunnel floor - a reminder that Setme's troops had recently passed this way.
Blonre stopped at a place where a ladder was cut into the wall. “We have to go up here and go above ground a little way to enter the tunnel that will take us to the castle.” He handed the glow grass lamp to Jesipam, climbed the ladder and pushed aside the stone hiding the exit hole. He reached down. Jesipam handed him the lamp, which he set on the ground above him, then climbed out of the hole. Jesipam followed him. As she climbed up and looked around, she saw that they were now close to the bottom of the hill looking up wooded slopes. There was a high stone wall surrounding a pasture behind them. She startled to notice a figure moving among the trees – then another and another. She reached out to Blonre.
“Setme's troops.” Blonre whispered.
“Oh!” Jesipam felt foolish. She moved in closer to get a better look at them. The two men and woman she could see clearly didn't look familiar. She backed slowly toward Blonre – wondering if she should run for the tunnel before they spied her. Then, she heard a low whistle to the right. She looked over to see a young man smiling from behind a bush.
“Blue House! It's good to see you again!” he called to her in a low whisper.
Jesipam took a couple cautious steps towards him.
“It's me, Heslan, from Red House. Remember, I was your general for a game of King's Capture once.”
Jesipam stared at him. She let her eyes slide into subtle focus and saw the same bright glow and abundant branching of radiant connections that induced her to choose him as her right hand man many years ago. “Heslan! You frightened me!” She ran over to him. “What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Red House?”
“Heard you were amassing an army to throw out that tyrant father of yours. I came to help!”
“Why didn't I see you at the warehouse?”
“What warehouse?”
“Where we hid out – why didn't I see you there?”
“Tapre had us out here keeping watch. He instructed us to send up flaming arrows if we saw anything suspicious, and he sent runners down to check on us from time to time – but he didn't want us to know your exact location. Sentries are always pretty vulnerable to capture. I suppose he felt he didn't know us well enough to trust us that much.”
“So how long have you been out here?”
“Two or three weeks.”
“In this cold!”
Heslan shrugged. “The other troops are here now. It's almost over now. It hasn't been so bad.” He grabbed the collar of his thick wool jacket. “We're dressed for it. Besides, it's for a good cause. I remember the way you wouldn't let us humiliate young Red House in front of all those people. He would have humiliated you, but you wouldn't do that to him even though everyone else was urging you to do so – even Red House himself! That took guts! I figure if anyone can unite us and make sure everyone makes it through this famine it's you!”
Jesipam felt her mouth drop open. The incident had faded out of her memory – yet this young man was willing to join an army and sit out for weeks in the chill of autumn because of it! “I – I hope you're right! There are a lot of good people making a lot of sacrifices for this. I'd hate to let them down.”
“You'll be great!” Heslan looked down, his cheeks grew brighter. “Do you remember when we'd won the crown? You offered it to me because you said I was the one who earned it - even though you were the King. I don't expect you to do exactly that in real life – but you care about giving people their due... that's important! Well, that's all I wanted to say. Your friend over there is waving his hand. I think it's time for you to go!”
Jesipam turned around to see Blonre beckoning. She turned back to Heslan and gave his arm a squeeze. “It was good to see you Heslan! I hope your commander knows what a good tactician he has in you! Take care!”
She ran back to Blonre. “I'm sorry, I knew him from Red House – I was just so surprised to see him...”
“Don't apologize! You did exactly right! I heard a little of what you said. That part about 'there are a lot of good people making a lot of sacrifices' – that was perfect! You are getting the feel for this job!”
Jesipam stared at him. “I wasn't 'doing a job'!” she whispered. “There are a lot of good people making sacrifices! I most dearly hope it all turns out to be worth it in the end!”
Blonre started to say something the thought better of it. He took hold of her elbow and guided her down a wooded path. He directed her off the path by a thick tree trunk and soon slid another flat rock aside to expose the opening of the second tunnel. “After you!” he said.
Jesipam jumped down into the darkness, landed on her feet, but hit her shoulder against a wall when she tried to make room for Blonre to jump down.
“Where are you going? I need you to catch this lamp for me!” Blonre lowered the glow grass lamp into the tunnel. Jesipam positioned herself directly below the opening but her sore shoulder slowed her reflexes. She nearly dropped the falling glass globe. Water sloshed over her clothes and a few tendrils of glow grass stuck to her jacket. She moved away from the opening and Blonre dropped to the floor. He took the lamp from her hands. He pointed to their left. “This way!”
Jesipam followed after him in the crumbling tunnel. She looked up at the ceiling. The ceiling of this section looked heavily mottled. Large depressions showed where dirt chunks fell to the floor. They went on and on through unchanging darkness. Finally, they came to a place where the tunnel forked into two sections. Blonre took the left fork and quickened his pace.
“Why are we going so fast?” Jesipam asked.
“Sh-h-h" Blonre warned. “We're getting closer to the castle. Our scouts have seen Beslre's patrols in this area of the tunnels!”
Jesipam swallowed. So now it starts! Her throat felt dry. She fished her water skin out of her knapsack and gulped a swig. Suddenly, Blonre stopped and held his hand out signaling her to be halt. They stood very still.
Then Jesipam heard it – footsteps! Blonre pulled a cloth out of his satchel and covered the lamp to reduce its light. “They are coming this way,” he whispered. “We'll have to head back and hope the other fork is less well patrolled.”
They turned around and ran on tiptoe back toward the fork. Something whistled past her ear and hit the wall ahead of her, sending a cascade of dirt and pebbles to the tunnel floor. Jesipam look saw an arrow sticking out among the dirt and pebbles.
“Protections!” Blonre swore. “They've seen us – run!”